Commercial Real Estate Financing for Beginners

Securing commercial real estate financing can be a difficult task if you're not familiar with the field. First, let's distinguish between residential and commercial. Residential properties are solely for housing people. The location can have up to four units. Five or more units, and just about anything not intended for habitation, qualifies as commercial.

With that clear, let's discuss the actual financing. Acquiring money, and how much you are allowed to borrow, is affected by a number of factors.

When analyzing an investment plan, lenders consider the following:
* The borrower's credit rating
* The net income of the venture
* The laws and demographics of the area
* The kind and number of tenants.

These are not the only things lenders consider, but these can give you an idea of how much planning and research you need to do. We'll address these as the most immediate concerns that you can also investigate on your own.

Commercials all over television talk about a person's credit rating. This very important number controls your financing life and future. Basically, the higher the rating, the more likely lenders are to give you a larger loan with a decent interest rate. For them, a good rating indicates not only your ability to pay, but your level of responsibility to your debtors. If you have a median rating, you may have to begin with a smaller venture so that you can get a reasonable loan and interest rate.

In addition to the credit rating, but far more important a consideration in commercial property, is the net income of the venture. Financiers want to see that the venture will allow you to pay the mortgage due each month. A proposal that does not clearly indicate profits enough to cover expenses and loan payments is not likely to receive funds. It is important that you investigate this before proposing a venture to a lender. Make sure you account for all of the expenses (repairs, maintenance, etc.) before presenting your net income on the property.

Consider the laws and demographics of the area because the finance agency will. If laws are going to restrict the productivity of your venture, lenders may be reluctant to provide a loan. The same is true of demographics and the economic climate of the location. If the population is low or isn't likely to patronize your business, again, that can effect whether or not you get funding. Also, the economic activity of the area influences financial decisions. If there is a boom, your chances increase. Let's say the area is a money drain, or in an escalating slump. It will be harder to justify commercial real estate financing in those kinds of conditions.

Also look at your tenants. For example, if you're proposing to open a health food store in a strip property that has several fast food tenants, then your business's chances of success are much lower. If, for instance, you open the same kind of store in a strip with a gym, yoga studio and health spa as tenants, the likelihood of getting frequent customers is increased. Lending institutions take these sorts of things into consideration because they influence the profitability of your venture.

These are not the only considerations, but they are easy to check into and can help you decide if a particular venture is worth your time and the work involved in securing commercial real estate financing. Make sure you do your homework first, and securing funds for your venture will be an easier process.

Commercial Real Estate Financing Basics

Applying for commercial real estate financing is a big step. It's not easy to get commercial property loans, especially if you are a first-time borrower. Before you apply, there are some things you should think about in order to be fully prepared.

Commercial real estate financing is different from residential real estate in a big way, according to the lender. With residential real estate, they are looking at how much the property is worth, and not overly concerned with how much it will make in the future. Residential property generally appreciates over time. With commercial real estate, however, they'll be looking at future profits.

This means that they will be concerned less with the current worth, and more with the possible worth. As a result of this, they will be very concerned with what sort of profits the venture will generate. This is why it is very important for you to sit down and do the math. How much do you think it will make?

This means also that you should be clear on how you will use the property. What kind of business will this be? Is it going to be all for one business, or are you going to rent out units? These will be major considerations for the lender, so make sure you have a detailed plan all set out.

The actual geography of the property will also be a factor in determining whether you get your loan or not. Look at the location of the property and how that will effect the business. You will have more trouble getting financing for a place located way out in the sticks than a place on a highway off-ramp.

The size and type of the property will also be factors. You will want to look at the history of the place and make sure there aren't any minor details that might cause trouble, like environmental problems.

Risk is the most important consideration to lenders. They will be looking at the future of the venture and, in particular, at possible things that could go wrong with the business.

A big part of this is the condition of the overall market. You can save yourself trouble later with your commercial real estate financing by studying the market and understanding its current trends. This is what your potential lender will be looking at, so it's good for you to understand it as well. If the future is uncertain for the type of property you are trying to buy, they may be worried about making back the loan.

Before the deal closes, they will send you a "commitment letter." This is a notification from the lender letting you know officially that you have been approved. More importantly for the lender, the commitment letter will have the terms and conditions of the loan. In other words, these are the rules.

It will tell you details about the closing conditions, rules for what you can and can't do with the property, as well as a summary of all the terms you agreed on, making it official. Take a good look at this and make sure that it will not prohibit you from doing the things you intended when you requested the financing.

Finding commercial real estate financing is a long and drawn-out process, but if you can consider a few things before you apply, you can save yourself the headache of dealing with something unexpected later.

Investing in a Down Market

All investments depend on making returns, which in turn are affected by macro cycles such as the Great Depression or the dot-com boom. When a market is receding, it makes more sense for long-term, stability-seeking investors to look elsewhere upon first glance. However, in the case of the housing market of many parts of the US, the likelihood of long-term housing depression are still relatively slim. Furthermore, other factors will continue to influence the stability of housing pricing in the short term.

Likely investors in most areas will be able to get great values for some time, but housing prices have statistically increased on a per-capita level for the vast majority of the past century. Even with the 30% decrease in home prices during the years of 1930-33, economic stimulus eventually prevailed. The Depression was also the primary topic of a young Ben Bernanke who, before his current position as head of the Federal Reserve, wrote a 350-page report on how the US' largest recession was due to the blunders of the then newly-created institution. Bernanke has also taken more unprecedented steps to help preserve large investment banks than homeownership, citing a housing bubble which needs a necessary (though unfortunate) correction.

As foreclosure rates continue to increase, many properties are being revalued at less than the price they were purchased at. However, this is only half the story. America's losses are oft distributed unequally. And while the Midwest generally experiencing the worst effects of past recessions, this time may be a little different. Across middle America, home prices have depressed for seven straight months, but several previously hot markets have deteriorated below pre-bubble prices. Southern California and Arizona are two examples that stand out, particularly in terms of how rapidly falling home values have affected previously booming areas.

Now consumers are hit with two difficulties which make housing slumps particularly viscous: rising mortgage payments and loss of home equity, which has restricted lines of credit for homeowners. Furthermore, the advantages of America's size are diminished in a housing slump because homeowners are unable to migrate to other areas. Historically, there have been many such exoduses from economically depressed areas in search of higher wages, but homeowners are increasingly unable to do so unless they sell their homes at a loss.

This stagnation also means that markets with rising values will continue to attract investment, while government intervention may be necessary to lift more blighted areas. The Northwest continues to experience positive property values, despite the prospects oflooming layoffs from troubled financial firms. Texas continues to experience exceptional developmental growth, and relatively stable house prices in his area likely contributed to the Dallas Fed's dissenting vote against the recent record Federal Funds Rate cut. In central Texas, development has continued relatively unabated, in contrast with other areas where property values have dropped more considerably. This reasoning indicates that these markets are likely to accelerate growth as the larger economy recovers from the sub-prime crisis, and will probably be more valuable in the mid-term by comparison to more depressed areas.

Either way, the US recession is not likely to remain too deep, thanks to the generous monetary policy of the Fed. Should current inflationary pressures continue their current trends, home prices will necessarily rebound, although not quickly enough to facilitate speculative short sells. Therefore, for those looking for the long haul, deals are out there.

Perfect time to Make Money With Real Estate

You have probably seen many commercials on television claiming that you can become wealthy with real estate investing. The fact is that real estate is a powerful vehicle to generate great wealth however it does still require knowledge and expertise on your part in order to find profitable investments. Real estate is a very predictable and solid investment platform versus stock market investing which can be highly volatile and risky.

The best way to get into real estate investing is to first create a successful business of some sort that is generating solid positive cashflow and then use that money to invest in real estate to grow your wealth. This is the formula that the many of the richest people in the world use. If you are currently broke then it is highly recommended that you stay away from real estate investing for now since investing in properties is both capital and time intensive. Once you have created a successful business asset you should have the time and money to expand into real estate investing successfully.

How do you create a successful business if you are currently broke? Well you may want to consider looking into internet marketing and specifically affiliate marketing as it does not require you to have a product or service to begin with so you can make money quite fast and without having to spend money and time to create a product. Ebay marketing can be another option you may want to look into also. Also remember that if you have vision and creative ideas you can attract funding for your business from wealthy investors as long as you can convince these investors that you will be able to succeed with your business ideas.

Remember that just because you do not have money it does not mean you cannot create a profitable business since there are plenty of wealthy investors looking for bright entrepreneurs that they are willing to provide money to as long as they feel that their return on investment will be worthwhile.

One of the important keys to keep in mind in successful real estate investing is that your money is made when you buy and not when you sell. Make sure that the investment you are looking at meets the criteria of a profitable investment. A profitable investment is one where the investment generates a positive cash flow for you right from the start. Property appreciation should be looked upon as a bonus and not something that you count on in order to make your money.

Perhaps the best real estate investment strategy is to buy properties at a price that allows you to rent out the property for a value that is greater than the expenses associated with the property so that you have positive cashflow or a profit. Of course you do want to look at the appreciation rate of the property for the last several years and look for a steady solid increase but if the property will not create positive cash flow right from day one then it is not the best investment.

The properties you purchase should be assets. Banks define assets slightly differently than many wealthy investors. Most wealthy investors look at assets as something that puts money in your pocket at the end of the month after all expenses are accounted for. While many people consider their homes as an asset, many rich investors consider their homes as a liability since it usually takes more money from your pocket at the end of each month.

Always consider your cashflow when evaluating a property and never get attached to property emotionally just because it looks cute. The property must look profitable after crunching all the numbers in order to consider purchasing and renting it out. Real estate investing is indeed an extremely powerful and proven wealth vehicle so first create a successful business that generates solid positive cashflow and then increase your wealth exponentially through real estate investing.

How To Invest In Real Estate

• Flipping Houses – One of the most popular ways on how to invest in real estate is to flip houses . This basically means you are purchasing a home at a low cost and then selling it for a profit. There are three main ways this is done. First, you find a house for a bargain because the seller is highly motivated to get rid of the house quickly. This could be for an impending move or because of personal financial issues. Another option is to find foreclosure properties. Often the bank will let a house go for under market value to make themselves whole. The third option is to find a house that needs fixing up.

• Fixer Upper Homes – This brings us to one of the other most popular ways on how to invest in real estate. Fixer upper homes are usually thought of under the same umbrella as flipping houses but because it is a specialized niche, we should discuss it separately as it has its own unique issues. If you are considering fixer upper homes as how to invest in real estate, make sure you have the skills, capital and means to get the job done quickly, efficiently and at the lowest cost available. You need to consider your initial sales price as well as the additional money and time it will take to get the house improved and livable. Then, you need to be sure you can sell the property in a short amount of time and at a profit from your total investment.

• Rental Roperties – While this can be a great way on how to invest in real estate, it also has its share of headaches. The initial investment calculations should take into consideration the difference between your investment in the property and your potential income from rentals. But, bear in mind that when using rental property as how to invest in real estate, you have certain responsibilities and hands-on concerns to deal with. You may not be able to rent the home immediately. You will have to deal with advertising the rental. You will have to screen potential renters. You will have to spend money on any major repairs or maintenance in the home. You may have to deal with the nightmare of eviction proceedings if the tenants default on the lease. This can either be done by you personally or via a property management company that charges a fee.

Regardless of what you decide on how to invest in real estate there are pros and cons. You just need to decide which ones you find most appealing. You also need to consider which ones will be most profitable for you and often that is taken on a case by case basis.

Is it Safe to Buy a Home in a Down Market?

Everybody wants to know how to best time the market buying a home. It's just natural. Especially if you're thinking about buying in a down market where homes prices are declining. You wonder how low they will go and whether you should wait, right?

Some Home Buyers Should Buy Immediately

You're probably thinking: "Of course, she would say that. She's a Realtor, and agents always say 'Now is the best time to buy'." Well, here is why:

• If you are a seller who wants to move up to a more expensive home in a down market, now could be the best time. The longer you wait to sell, the lower the price of your home could fall.
• If you can arrange for alternate housing, a smart strategy is sell now, wait a few months, then buy your new home.
• If you sell and buy simultaneously, you'll still be ahead of the game because the price reduction on the purchase is greater than the loss on the sale.

Consider the "Loss" on Selling Your Present Home

For example, say your present house is worth $300,000, but because of high inventory and few buyers, you must reduce your price by 10%. So, instead of receiving $300,000, you would get $270,000 and "lose" $30,000.

Consider Your Real Profit

Now, consider this. Say you bought this home 10 years ago and paid $100,000. You're still ahead $170,000, less costs of sale, aren't you? (This ignores monthly payments, but you would make those if you were renting, too.)

Consider the "Savings" on Buying Your New Home

If you are planning to move up to a $500,000 house, which is located in the same distressed market, you could probably buy that house at that same 10% discount or $450,000. This would mean you had saved $50,000.

Review of Selling and Buying Numbers

1. So you "lost" $30,000 on the sale of your home
2. But you "made" $50,000 on the purchase of your new home
3. Doesn't that put you $20,000 ahead?

Don't Forget the Impact of Interest Rates

Which way are interest rates moving? Are they moving up or moving down? If interest rates are near an all-time low and beginning to inch upwards, waiting could cost you more than you would think. You might not be able to afford to buy a home at any price.

FACT: Each 1/2 point increase in your interest rate gives you $25,000 less in purchasing power.

FACT: Each 1 point increase in your interest rate gives you $50,000 less in purchasing power.

FACT: Each 2 point increase in your interest rate gives you $100,000 less in purchasing power.

Look at the Differences Among Purchase Prices versus Interest Rates

If you put down 20% and qualify for an 80% loan, here are your principal and interest payments on the following purchase prices:

• $425,000 sales price, at 8.25% interest, your payment is $2,554.
  
• $450,000 sales price, at 7.75% interest, your payment is $2,579.
  
• $475,000 sales price, at 7.25% interest, your payment is $2,592.
  
• $500,000 sales price, at 6.75% interest, your payment is $2,594.
  
• $525,000 sales price, at 6.25% interest, your payment is $2,586.

The payments are almost identical. However, the home you can afford to buy a 8.25% is $100,000 less than the home you can afford to buy at 6.25%. If you wait for prices to further decline, the perceived value could be lost due to higher rates.

A good strategy is to weigh all the pos and cons of real estate ownership before making the decision to buy or sell. Don't panic over newspaper headlines. Make an informed decision. Run your own numbers.

Questions To Ask Before Investing In Real Estate

Real Estate is a complicated business. Every facet is controlled, in most countries, by numerous legal restrictions and requirements and there are many people involved in any deal, some with vested and competing interests. But you can also make a lot of money and, in some ways, a lot easier than in many other businesses.

Before you take the plunge, ask yourself — and try to answer — some of the following questions.

1.How much capital do you have?

Real estate investing is first and foremost just that — an investment. It requires money. Sometimes a relatively small amount, sometimes big sums. But whatever you layout initially, once you sign the papers, you’re legally liable for a serious chunk of change. That suggests you should have enough capital to invest — either in the form of savings or ability to finance which means carrying debt and paying interest. ‘Enough’, obviously, depends on your personal circumstances. How much savings do you have?, how much can you afford to lose?, how much debt can you carry and how much interest can you afford to pay?

2.What’s your tolerance for risk?

Capital and risk are inseparable partners. A person with five million in the bank can absorb a risk of five hundred thousand without serious, though maybe painful, consequences. Someone who is putting up their hard earned five thousand, hoping to turn it into fifty, is in a different situation. I’m not suggesting the one with five should stay home and watch television. Taking risks is admirable and exciting. But you should estimate realistically how much actual money you can put into an investment. The mirror half of that is to be honest with yourself and think about how much risk you can live with emotionally. Some people are natural adventurers, others prefer a cautious approach.

3. What are your long-term financial goals?

Some individuals are interested in capital preservation, others want maximum return in the shortest period. Each carries a level of risk, and also an implied time commitment. Each demands a particular level of investment of time and money. If you’re looking for a ten percent profit on your investment in a matter of weeks, real estate isn’t for you. If you’re after high percentage gains, that’s possible but risky and usually requires a year or more commitment. During that year, your investment is not liquid apart from the ability to borrow against it. Along with having your funds tied up for other potential uses, property values can change dramatically in a short time frame. The last few years have been steadily up in most areas, but with changes in interest rates, that can (and probably will) change.

4.What kind of person are you?

Real estate investment, unless you just enjoy losing money and enduring stress, requires a tolerance for risk, a commitment of time and effort, and an interest in details — especially legal details. Beyond all that, the more basic requirement is an interest and aptitude for learning. Market study, advertising, contracts, construction, property law, even a fair amount of psychology, all form a part of real estate investing. You don’t have to become an expert in these, and other, areas before making a move. But if you don’t enjoy learning about these and the host of other subjects that are part of the business — well, come on in because the sharks love fresh meat.

If you still haven’t been scared away — bravo! You stand to make a lot of money in one of the oldest businesses and biggest adventures still around in the modern world.